OhioHealth’s Medical Simulation Team, Sports Medicine Fellows, Athletic Trainers and Residents Hold Sports Emergency Simulation Trainings
Back to school this month for many kids also means back to the field. The OhioHealth Medical Simulation team and sports medicine team are working with local school districts to help prepare medical personnel, associates, students and the community for the upcoming sports seasons. More specifically, to be ready to handle any emergency situations.
Most recently, OhioHealth’s Medical Simulation team, sports medicine fellows, athletic trainers, residents, and Norwich Township Fire Department held a field sports emergency simulation training that took place at Hilliard Davidson High School.
OhioHealth reaches approximately 12,000 learners per year. OhioHealth has over 90 school partners, (individual schools) and over 180 athletic trainers.
Brad Gable, MD, System Medical Director - OhioHealth Simulation, said many times patients’ first point of contact with the healthcare system is often in the prehospital setting. Being prepared to handle an emergency, at any time and in any place, is crucial.
“We often do in-situ simulation with firefighters, paramedics, police, athletic trainers, and even the public in places where emergencies happen,” Dr. Gable said.
In-situ simulations are simulated events that happen where the patients are, and medical staff works. Many times, that is on a hospital floor, in the emergency department, operating room, cath lab, etc. However, these situations can happen at places like sporting events, schools, lakes and rivers, homes, etc.
“Anytime we do in-situ simulation there is quite a bit we can learn,” Dr. Gable said, “Not only can we teach healthcare providers about life saving interventions, but also learn about the processes and protocols that are in place.”
Holding simulation trainings help medical personnel and other parties involved to constantly improve and practice those processes and protocols.
Trainings like the field sports emergency simulations at the high school, not only reinforced and clarified many of the protocols for everyone, but also was a chance to improve the processes already in place. It also delineates the roles more clearly for the sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, paramedics, and school administrators.
One of the scenarios that they went over was a cardiac arrest in the stands.
“Research shows that patients' best chance of survival is with immediate and effective CPR, and early defibrillation,” Dr. Gable said, “Through this simulation we learned how best to contact emergency personnel such as EMS, provide optimal chest compressions, locate and utilize automated external defibrillator (AED), and maintain scene safety.”
The medical personnel and school administration also went through the protocols in place to help an athlete suffering from a concussion or spine injury.
Effective leadership, teamwork, and communication are essential in these low-frequency high-risk situations. In these circumstances, there are several handoffs between providers.
“Being able to provide the best care to the patient in a challenging environment is important to the ultimate outcome. In-situ simulations like these allow us to practice those skills and clarify every team member's role so there is less ambiguity when these emergencies arise,” Dr. Gable said.
